OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A major change for Kissimmee and its fire department aims to improve the lives of firefighters, but it comes with a cost.
Twenty-four on and 48 hours off is the standard for fire departments, but in Kissimmee, the fire chief says they are ready to evolve.
“So the 24/72 schedule is really going to become the gold standard going forward, I believe, in the next decade,” Chief Jim Walls said.
On Tuesday, Kissimmee City Commissioners approved a yearly property assessment to make it possible for the department to fund a switch from its current 54-hour workweek to a 42-hour one by changing their shifts to 24 hours on and 72 hours off.
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Property owners will have their homes assessed annually to cover the costs, paying $150 for each property and an additional 56 cents per $1,000 of improvements. According to the ordinance, the estimated Fire Service Assessed Cost that will be recovered through Fire Service Assessments for the fiscal year starting on Oct. 1 is $6,136,466.
Walls said the change will benefit their recruitment and retention efforts as well as the work-life balance for firefighters.
“They’re running calls all night. So, you know, you’re really tired that next day when you’re getting off shift,” Walls explained. “So that first day off is really just trying to recover from the shift before. So then that next day off is your one true day off to enjoy time with family, friends.”
Kissimmee Firefighters Local 4208 tells News 6 this will improve public safety.
“The approval of this fire fee is a monumental and progressive step toward ensuring the citizens of Kissimmee receive the highest level of service from the most qualified and highly trained firefighters. It paves the way for implementing a 24/72 schedule, which will help us attract top-tier candidates in an already competitive hiring environment. Just as importantly, it gives our firefighters the time they need to physically and mentally recover between shifts, something critically important in a high-call volume city that demands our very best every day,” President Joshua Clark said.
To do this with no pay reduction for the firefighters, the department will need to fill 49 positions.
“We have to hire another shift. So, we have to hire 39 firefighters just to fill that fourth shift. Part of that, we have to grow our administration,” Walls explained. “So we’re looking at a total of 49 positions that will have to be filled with this 39 for shift, four or five administrative, and then backfill in the promotions and stuff.”
As the city grows, Walls emphasizes the need to attract and keep qualified personnel on staff to protect residents, something he feels this new shift will help deliver.
“Currently, Kissimmee has 105 firefighters, with 70% having less than 10 years of experience and about half of those with less than five years,” he said.
“One of the benefits of retaining firefighters is that instead of always having 2- or 3-year firefighter paramedics, they do great. But, you know, I’d rather have a 15-year experienced firefighter paramedic taking care of my mom or my loved one, or fighting the fire consistently, than always having a 2- or 3-year firefighter.”
The chief plans to make the hires in two phases, the first this fall and the next at the start of 2026. If everything goes to plan, he expects the new shift will begin next April.